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Robert Doyle in summing up the presentation of the City of Melbourne 2013-14 budget had a dig at Collins Street Traders by saying…

“Council is actually here [Council Meeting held on Thursday May 9] on both items [4 yr Plan and Council Budget] giving approval for public notice rather than giving approval or substantive debate of content because this is a work in progress we now send this process out for further comment from the public”…“We are starting to get comment already… I remind Councillors that those very people who criticise elements of the budget, like a small rise in parking fees of a dollar fifty, are the very people who at other times of the year are exhorting us to spend more on Christmas decorations, more on cleaning the City and beatifying streets, such as in Collins Street and that is one of the things for me [Robert Doyle] difficult to understand.”…“The amount we are raising, and I will ask the public to think about that, through the increases in parking and increases in rates equates to about 14 Million dollars. I often say to people in the consultation period what would you cut out.”..“That adds up to our entire Arts and Cultural budget. We could do none of that, if you like, but I do not think that will be the right answer. “.. “It is a work in progress but I like to think pretty much of our work is done. I can not see us after consultation going back to first principles”Councillor Stephen Mayne (In closing)

“It is open to councillors and everyone else to suggest changes or updates to the budget, for instance the 149 births at docklands where we mention zero rent … where many were packaged up with apartments by VicUrban”… “from 2025 we will be able to extract rent for those births”.. :”It is all about providing information in its correct context.”..“It is up to everyone to make submissions and suggestions.”SUBMISSIONS CLOSE JUNE 7

The Melbourne City Council audio recording of the meeting has been edited and a section deleted removing comments made by Lord Mayor Robert Doyle just prior to the taking of the vote and the closing of the meeting. (Listen from the end of Stephen Mayne’s Speech 1 min before recording end)

Have your say

Submissions are welcome on the draft Annual Plan and Budget 2013-14.

The detail of what we will do and how we will fund our activities is agreed each year in the Annual Plan and Budget.

The draft Annual Plan and Budget 2013-14 is now out for statutory consultation.

Council’s Future Melbourne Committee will consider any written submission received on or before Friday 7 June 2013, at a meeting to be held on Tuesday 18 June 2013 at 5.30pm in the Council Meeting Room, level two, Melbourne Town Hall, Swanston Street, Melbourne.

If a person wishes to be heard in support of their submission they must include the request to be heard in the submission and this will entitle them to appear in person or by a person acting on their behalf before the meeting of the Committee.

Robert Doyle in summing up the presentation of the City of Melbourne 2013-14 budget had a dig at Collins Street Traders by saying…

“Council is actually here [Council Meeting held on Thursday May 9] on both items [4 yr Plan and Council Budget] giving approval for public notice rather than giving approval or substantive debate of content because this is a work in progress we now send this process out for further comment form the public”…“We are starting to get comment already… I remind Councillors that those very people who criticise elements of the budget, like a small rise in parking fees of a dollar fifty, are the very people who at other times of the year are exhorting us to spend more on Christmas decorations, more on cleaning the City and beatifying streets, such as in Collins Street and that is one of the things for me [Robert Doyle] difficult to understand.”…“The amount we are raising, and I will ask the public to think about that, though the increases in parking and increases in rates equates to about 14 Million dollars. I often say to people in consultation period what would you cut out.”..“that adds up to our entire Arts and Cultural budget. We could do none of that if you like but I do not think that will be the right answer. “.. “It is a work in progress but I like to think pretty much of our work is done. I can not see us after consultation going back to first principles”Councillor Stephen Mayne (In closing)

“It is open to councillors and everyone else to suggest changes or updates to the budget, for instance the 149 births at docklands where we mention zero rent … where many were packaged up with apartments by VicUrban”… “from 2025 we will be able to extract rent fro those births”.. :It is all about providing information in its correct context.”..“It is up to everyone to make submissions and suggestions.”SUBMISSIONS CLOSE JUNE 7

The Melbourne City Council audio recording of the meeting has been edited and a section of deleted removing comments made by Lord Mayor Robert Doyle just prior to the taking of the vote and the closing of the meeting. (Listen from the end of Stephen Mayne’s Speech 1 min before recording end)

Have your say

Submissions are welcome on the draft Annual Plan and Budget 2013-14.

The detail of what we will do and how we will fund our activities is agreed each year in the Annual Plan and Budget.

The draft Annual Plan and Budget 2013-14 is now out for statutory consultation.

Council’s Future Melbourne Committee will consider any written submission received on or before Friday 7 June 2013, at a meeting to be held on Tuesday 18 June 2013 at 5.30pm in the Council Meeting Room, level two, Melbourne Town Hall, Swanston Street, Melbourne.

If a person wishes to be heard in support of their submission they must include the request to be heard in the submission and this will entitle them to appear in person or by a person acting on their behalf before the meeting of the Committee.

The City of Melbourne will spend $300,000 creating bike lane separation in Neil Street Carton.

Neil Street is not a major bike pathway or a though-fare. Less than 100 bikes a day would use this Street. Most bikes travel down Canning Street, Carlton and through the Carlton Gardens not Neil Street.

The City of Melbourne will spend $300,000 creating bike lane separation in Neil Street Carton.

Neil Street is not a major bike pathway or a though-fare. Less than 300 bikes a day would use this Street. Most bikes travel down Canning Street, Carlton and through the Carlton Gardens not Neil Street.

“There is a $10.5 million shortfall in parking revenue basically caused by compliance, people are following the rules so our projected fines did not reach what we thought we were going to get,” – Robert Doyle

The Melbourne City Council has published its four year plan and 2013-1014 budget. In an embarrassing oversight the Council nearly passed a recommendation approving the wrong City plan.

The recommendation outlined in the notice paper listed

Recommendation from management8. That Council:8.1.approves the draft Council Plan 2009–13 for release for public notice (Notice) from 10 May to 7June 2013

Should have been the 2013-2017 draft Council plan

Thankfully a member of the public altered the Council to the administrative oversight and the Council was able to amend the recommendation before it was too late. Had they not done so they would have had to convene another meeting to pass the correct motion, costing ratepayers 10s of thousands of dollars.

As much as I would have been amused I could not sit by watch such a blatant oversight go unnoticed. That’s our Council administration for you.

Melbourne City Council expected to go into deficit for a second year running as rates soar in order to pay the exhorbanent costs of the City Council .

Meanwhile John So, Melbourne Million Dollar a year Lord Mayor who hardly ever attends Council’s finance and governance meetings, will take leave when the City Council brings down its budget that will see in the election of a new Council,

Property values in the City have soared in the ;last two years and as a result the amount of money paid in rates has increased substantially, providing a win-fall for the city. Melbourne City Council works on a NAV (Net Annual Value) rating system based on the valuation of rateable property in the City. As property values increase size does the amount of rates paid top the extravagant financially irresponsible city council.

On top of the rate increase that Council is also expected to gain a windfall in funding thought secondary incomes streams such as the Road Congestion tax and additional service fees that have crept in under John So’s watch.

Asset rich income poor. The hardest hit in the rate increase will be pensioners and residents on a low income. Many ratepayers and residents of the city will soon find it too expensive to live within the City boundaries will be forced to sell up and move to a cheaper place to live outside the city.

Deficit budget is not good for Melbourne.

A deficit budget would see Melbourne’s financial position worsen yet again as John So continues his high spend fest, minimal care over Melbourne’s future.

Melbourne City Council and John So faces re-election in November and it is unclear if John So will run for a third term as Melbourne’s Lord Mayor. John So has become Melbourne Most travelled lord Mayor has he and his staff continue to milk the City’s treasury to funds John So’s Chinese adventures. A deficit budget will add further financial pressure on the new City Council.

If the new Council does not come to terms with Melbourne high cost big spending administration it will soon face bankruptcy adding further to the financial pressure and possible future devaluation of property which will further diminish the City’s financial stability.

Melbourne City Council expected to go into deficit for a second year running as rates soar in order to pay the exhorbanent costs of the City Council .

Meanwhile John So, Melbourne Million Dollar a year Lord Mayor who hardly ever attends Council’s finance and governance meetings, will take leave when the City Council brings down its budget that will see in the election of a new Council,

Property values in the City have soared in the ;last two years and as a result the amount of money paid in rates has increased substantially, providing a win-fall for the city. Melbourne City Council works on a NAV (Net Annual Value) rating system based on the valuation of rateable property in the City. As property values increase size does the amount of rates paid top the extravagant financially irresponsible city council.

On top of the rate increase that Council is also expected to gain a windfall in funding thought secondary incomes streams such as the Road Congestion tax and additional service fees that have crept in under John So’s watch.

Asset rich income poor. The hardest hit in the rate increase will be pensioners and residents on a low income. Many ratepayers and residents of the city will soon find it too expensive to live within the City boundaries will be forced to sell up and move to a cheaper place to live outside the city.

Deficit budget is not good for Melbourne.

A deficit budget would see Melbourne’s financial position worsen yet again as John So continues his high spend fest, minimal care over Melbourne’s future.

Melbourne City Council and John So faces re-election in November and it is unclear if John So will run for a third term as Melbourne’s Lord Mayor. John So has become Melbourne Most travelled lord Mayor has he and his staff continue to milk the City’s treasury to funds John So’s Chinese adventures. A deficit budget will add further financial pressure on the new City Council.

If the new Council does not come to terms with Melbourne high cost big spending administration it will soon face bankruptcy adding further to the financial pressure and possible future devaluation of property which will further diminish the City’s financial stability.

Melbourne City Council expected to go into deficit for a second year running as rates soar in order to pay the exhorbanent costs of the City Council .

Meanwhile John So, Melbourne Million Dollar a year Lord Mayor who hardly ever attends Council’s finance and governance meetings, will take leave when the City Council brings down its budget that will see in the election of a new Council,

Property values in the City have soared in the ;last two years and as a result the amount of money paid in rates has increased substantially, providing a win-fall for the city. Melbourne City Council works on a NAV (Net Annual Value) rating system based on the valuation of rateable property in the City. As property values increase size does the amount of rates paid top the extravagant financially irresponsible city council.

On top of the rate increase that Council is also expected to gain a windfall in funding thought secondary incomes streams such as the Road Congestion tax and additional service fees that have crept in under John So’s watch.

Asset rich income poor. The hardest hit in the rate increase will be pensioners and residents on a low income. Many ratepayers and residents of the city will soon find it too expensive to live within the City boundaries will be forced to sell up and move to a cheaper place to live outside the city.

Deficit budget is not good for Melbourne.

A deficit budget would see Melbourne’s financial position worsen yet again as John So continues his high spend fest, minimal care over Melbourne’s future.

Melbourne City Council and John So faces re-election in November and it is unclear if John So will run for a third term as Melbourne’s Lord Mayor. John So has become Melbourne Most travelled lord Mayor has he and his staff continue to milk the City’s treasury to funds John So’s Chinese adventures. A deficit budget will add further financial pressure on the new City Council.

If the new Council does not come to terms with Melbourne high cost big spending administration it will soon face bankruptcy adding further to the financial pressure and possible future devaluation of property which will further diminish the City’s financial stability.

Melbourne City Council begins to implement some of the recommendation contained in the $300,000 efficiency report as the Council begins to prune the bush and cut back on John So uncontrolled expenditure.

If anything John So has demonstrated that he has no idea of strategic investment. Wasted investments such as the Tourist Bus and lighting the Tan are just two examples of how out of touch with reality John So is from the day to day management of the Council.

John So last week faced a no-confidence motion amidst claims that he was a hands-off, removed from the coal-face, Lord Mayor.

This is one of the main problems identified with the populist direct election models. If Melbourne was sincere about good governance then it would scrape the hybrid direct election model, expand the city boundaries and the size of the elected City Council. The Lord Mayor, or at least the chairman of the Council, should be apointed from and by the elected Councillors.

There still is a long way to go and more cut backs can be expected. Still unknown is the extent of redundancy and breach of contract payouts the Council has to fork out. Again pointing to further stuff-ups and blow-outs in the City Council’s Finance.

Finance Committee Chairperson Brian Shanahan has been the one that has had to take the flack and the task of doing all the hard work. Last week Shanahan voted no-confidence in John So as the Council’s leader. Shanahan also voted against the Council’s budget. Shanahan now needs to consider whether he will continue to prop up John So and remain his silent puppet or resign from being Chairman of the Council’s the Finance Committee.

Melbourne City Council could cut up to 100 staff in a second round of redundancies, a report reveals.

The council is expected to save $1.5 million by sacking 26 people, including several senior executives, in the first round of redundancies, announced earlier today.

It would save a further $5.7 million in redundancies in the second round, the report says.

In the first round of redundancies, the Council will sack several senior executives, including its controversial spin doctor.

The council is set to reveal 26 redundancies as part of its biggest shake-up in 14 years, theage.com.au understands, with up to 100 more to go in the coming months.

Two directors, 10 executives and 14 staff are among those expected to be made redundant today.

Corporate affairs director Hayden Cock, whose package is worth $220,000, is believed to be among those to be made redundant.

Chief executive David Pitchford notified each of the 26 staff this morning.

The move follows the completion last month of a $300,000 report by consultants Ernst & Young on how the council could cut costs.

The report found a massive blowout in labour costs at the council, huge problems with its parking officers, a blowout in executives at the council on more than $100,000, and an explosion of spending on marketing.

Lord Mayor John So, who did not return calls, will come under immense pressure now the confidential report is public.

The report’s highly critical findings have found many problems at the council have emerged since 2002 – the year after Councillor So became Lord Mayor.

Melbourne City Council begins to implement some of the recommendation contained in the $300,000 efficiency report as the Council begins to prune the bush and cut back on John So uncontrolled expenditure.

If anything John So has demonstrated that he has no idea of strategic investment. Wasted investments such as the Tourist Bus and lighting the Tan are just two examples of how out of touch with reality John So is from the day to day management of the Council.

John So last week faced a no-confidence motion amidst claims that he was a hands-off, removed from the coal-face, Lord Mayor.

This is one of the main problems identified with the populist direct election models. If Melbourne was sincere about good governance then it would scrape the hybrid direct election model, expand the city boundaries and the size of the elected City Council. The Lord Mayor, or at least the chairman of the Council, should be apointed from and by the elected Councillors.

There still is a long way to go and more cut backs can be expected. Still unknown is the extent of redundancy and breach of contract payouts the Council has to fork out. Again pointing to further stuff-ups and blow-outs in the City Council’s Finance.

Finance Committee Chairperson Brian Shanahan has been the one that has had to take the flack and the task of doing all the hard work. Last week Shanahan voted no-confidence in John So as the Council’s leader. Shanahan also voted against the Council’s budget. Shanahan now needs to consider whether he will continue to prop up John So and remain his silent puppet or resign from being Chairman of the Council’s the Finance Committee.

Melbourne City Council could cut up to 100 staff in a second round of redundancies, a report reveals.

The council is expected to save $1.5 million by sacking 26 people, including several senior executives, in the first round of redundancies, announced earlier today.

It would save a further $5.7 million in redundancies in the second round, the report says.

In the first round of redundancies, the Council will sack several senior executives, including its controversial spin doctor.

The council is set to reveal 26 redundancies as part of its biggest shake-up in 14 years, theage.com.au understands, with up to 100 more to go in the coming months.

Two directors, 10 executives and 14 staff are among those expected to be made redundant today.

Corporate affairs director Hayden Cock, whose package is worth $220,000, is believed to be among those to be made redundant.

Chief executive David Pitchford notified each of the 26 staff this morning.

The move follows the completion last month of a $300,000 report by consultants Ernst & Young on how the council could cut costs.

The report found a massive blowout in labour costs at the council, huge problems with its parking officers, a blowout in executives at the council on more than $100,000, and an explosion of spending on marketing.

Lord Mayor John So, who did not return calls, will come under immense pressure now the confidential report is public.

The report’s highly critical findings have found many problems at the council have emerged since 2002 – the year after Councillor So became Lord Mayor.

Melbourne City Council begins to implement some of the recommendation contained in the $300,000 efficiency report as the Council begins to prune the bush and cut back on John So uncontrolled expenditure.

If anything John So has demonstrated that he has no idea of strategic investment. Wasted investments such as the Tourist Bus and lighting the Tan are just two examples of how out of touch with reality John So is from the day to day management of the Council.

John So last week faced a no-confidence motion amidst claims that he was a hands-off, removed from the coal-face, Lord Mayor.

This is one of the main problems identified with the populist direct election models. If Melbourne was sincere about good governance then it would scrape the hybrid direct election model, expand the city boundaries and the size of the elected City Council. The Lord Mayor, or at least the chairman of the Council, should be apointed from and by the elected Councillors.

There still is a long way to go and more cut backs can be expected. Still unknown is the extent of redundancy and breach of contract payouts the Council has to fork out. Again pointing to further stuff-ups and blow-outs in the City Council’s Finance.

Finance Committee Chairperson Brian Shanahan has been the one that has had to take the flack and the task of doing all the hard work. Last week Shanahan voted no-confidence in John So as the Council’s leader. Shanahan also voted against the Council’s budget. Shanahan now needs to consider whether he will continue to prop up John So and remain his silent puppet or resign from being Chairman of the Council’s the Finance Committee.

Melbourne City Council could cut up to 100 staff in a second round of redundancies, a report reveals.

The council is expected to save $1.5 million by sacking 26 people, including several senior executives, in the first round of redundancies, announced earlier today.

It would save a further $5.7 million in redundancies in the second round, the report says.

In the first round of redundancies, the Council will sack several senior executives, including its controversial spin doctor.

The council is set to reveal 26 redundancies as part of its biggest shake-up in 14 years, theage.com.au understands, with up to 100 more to go in the coming months.

Two directors, 10 executives and 14 staff are among those expected to be made redundant today.

Corporate affairs director Hayden Cock, whose package is worth $220,000, is believed to be among those to be made redundant.

Chief executive David Pitchford notified each of the 26 staff this morning.

The move follows the completion last month of a $300,000 report by consultants Ernst & Young on how the council could cut costs.

The report found a massive blowout in labour costs at the council, huge problems with its parking officers, a blowout in executives at the council on more than $100,000, and an explosion of spending on marketing.

Lord Mayor John So, who did not return calls, will come under immense pressure now the confidential report is public.

The report’s highly critical findings have found many problems at the council have emerged since 2002 – the year after Councillor So became Lord Mayor.

Following on from the $300,00 hidden Effeciency report The Age reports that the Melbourne City Council will axe a number of staff including controversol Spin Doctor Hayden Cock, Hayden Cock was goiven teh hard job of spending all of Council’s consolidated media revenue in what some have claimed to be John So’s political propoganda unit. Problem was Cok faield to deliver the goods and services as expecetd, Insxtead Melbourne sawe a blow out in the Council’s media expenditure with little gain in media exposure and benefit to the City.

In addition to the John So’s media unit Counil governnace is expecetd to also come under review.

The full costs of early termnination payout’s and redundancy has not been dislosed. It is expected that the City Council would be up for over 2 million dollars in early redundancy payouts.

Senior executives to go in council cullClay Lucas May 30, 2007 – 4:41PM

Melbourne City Council could cut up to 100 staff in a second round of redundancies, a report reveals.

The council is expected to save $1.5 million by sacking 26 people, including several senior executives, in the first round of redundancies, announced earlier today.

It would save a further $5.7 million in redundancies in the second round, the report says.

In the first round of redundancies, the Council will sack several senior executives, including its controversial spin doctor.

The council is set to reveal 26 redundancies as part of its biggest shake-up in 14 years, theage.com.au understands, with up to 100 more to go in the coming months.

Two directors, 10 executives and 14 staff are among those expected to be made redundant today.

Corporate affairs director Hayden Cock, whose package is worth $220,000, is believed to be among those to be made redundant.

Chief executive David Pitchford notified each of the 26 staff this morning.

The move follows the completion last month of a $300,000 report by consultants Ernst & Young on how the council could cut costs.

The report found a massive blowout in labour costs at the council, huge problems with its parking officers, a blowout in executives at the council on more than $100,000, and an explosion of spending on marketing.

Lord Mayor John So, who did not return calls, will come under immense pressure now the confidential report is public.

The report’s highly critical findings have found many problems at the council have emerged since 2002 – the year after Councillor So became Lord Mayor.

Following on from the $300,00 hidden Effeciency report The Age reports that the Melbourne City Council will axe a number of staff including controversol Spin Doctor Hayden Cock, Hayden Cock was goiven teh hard job of spending all of Council’s consolidated media revenue in what some have claimed to be John So’s political propoganda unit. Problem was Cok faield to deliver the goods and services as expecetd, Insxtead Melbourne sawe a blow out in the Council’s media expenditure with little gain in media exposure and benefit to the City.

In addition to the John So’s media unit Counil governnace is expecetd to also come under review.

The full costs of early termnination payout’s and redundancy has not been dislosed. It is expected that the City Council would be up for over 2 million dollars in early redundancy payouts.

Senior executives to go in council cullClay Lucas May 30, 2007 – 4:41PM

Melbourne City Council could cut up to 100 staff in a second round of redundancies, a report reveals.

The council is expected to save $1.5 million by sacking 26 people, including several senior executives, in the first round of redundancies, announced earlier today.

It would save a further $5.7 million in redundancies in the second round, the report says.

In the first round of redundancies, the Council will sack several senior executives, including its controversial spin doctor.

The council is set to reveal 26 redundancies as part of its biggest shake-up in 14 years, theage.com.au understands, with up to 100 more to go in the coming months.

Two directors, 10 executives and 14 staff are among those expected to be made redundant today.

Corporate affairs director Hayden Cock, whose package is worth $220,000, is believed to be among those to be made redundant.

Chief executive David Pitchford notified each of the 26 staff this morning.

The move follows the completion last month of a $300,000 report by consultants Ernst & Young on how the council could cut costs.

The report found a massive blowout in labour costs at the council, huge problems with its parking officers, a blowout in executives at the council on more than $100,000, and an explosion of spending on marketing.

Lord Mayor John So, who did not return calls, will come under immense pressure now the confidential report is public.

The report’s highly critical findings have found many problems at the council have emerged since 2002 – the year after Councillor So became Lord Mayor.

Following on from the $300,00 hidden Effeciency report The Age reports that the Melbourne City Council will axe a number of staff including controversol Spin Doctor Hayden Cock, Hayden Cock was goiven teh hard job of spending all of Council’s consolidated media revenue in what some have claimed to be John So’s political propoganda unit. Problem was Cok faield to deliver the goods and services as expecetd, Insxtead Melbourne sawe a blow out in the Council’s media expenditure with little gain in media exposure and benefit to the City.

In addition to the John So’s media unit Counil governnace is expecetd to also come under review.

The full costs of early termnination payout’s and redundancy has not been dislosed. It is expected that the City Council would be up for over 2 million dollars in early redundancy payouts.

Senior executives to go in council cullClay Lucas May 30, 2007 – 4:41PM

Melbourne City Council could cut up to 100 staff in a second round of redundancies, a report reveals.

The council is expected to save $1.5 million by sacking 26 people, including several senior executives, in the first round of redundancies, announced earlier today.

It would save a further $5.7 million in redundancies in the second round, the report says.

In the first round of redundancies, the Council will sack several senior executives, including its controversial spin doctor.

The council is set to reveal 26 redundancies as part of its biggest shake-up in 14 years, theage.com.au understands, with up to 100 more to go in the coming months.

Two directors, 10 executives and 14 staff are among those expected to be made redundant today.

Corporate affairs director Hayden Cock, whose package is worth $220,000, is believed to be among those to be made redundant.

Chief executive David Pitchford notified each of the 26 staff this morning.

The move follows the completion last month of a $300,000 report by consultants Ernst & Young on how the council could cut costs.

The report found a massive blowout in labour costs at the council, huge problems with its parking officers, a blowout in executives at the council on more than $100,000, and an explosion of spending on marketing.

Lord Mayor John So, who did not return calls, will come under immense pressure now the confidential report is public.

The report’s highly critical findings have found many problems at the council have emerged since 2002 – the year after Councillor So became Lord Mayor.